To revive tourism around the Taiping District’s Bat Cave, the Taichung City Government invested NT$25 million two years ago to build the Hundred Bats Bridge. However, delays in subsequent construction have drawn complaints from visitors and local residents. City Councilor Chang Yu-? convened a site inspection with officials from the Tourism Bureau, calling for the development of hiking trails and a surrounding loop road network in hopes of retaining tourists.
Pointing to the still stunning-looking Hundred Bats Bridge, Chang Yu-? expressed dissatisfaction, saying that although the bridge did attract many visitors after its inauguration—drawing over a thousand people on holidays—tourists became angry upon finding a “no entry ahead” sign, realizing the bridge led nowhere. They vented their frustration online, calling it deceptive, and visitor numbers have since declined.
Residents noted that the Bat Cave was once famous for hosting a large bat population, making it a popular attraction in Taichung. However, environmental changes caused the bats to leave. In recent years, the community has been working on restoring the habitat, and sometimes in the evening, hundreds of bats can be spotted again. They hope the city government will plan the area properly—ideally installing lighting inside the cave and providing parking nearby—to restore the Bat Cave’s former glory.
Chuang Yu-meng, deputy secretary-general of the Tourism Bureau, stated that the Bat Cave hiking trail has been included in the Hundred-Mile Hiking Trail project. The first phase of construction is expected to go out for tender in March and be completed by September. It will feature a trail along the mountaintop and connect to the newly completed Bike Path Route 136. The round-trip walk is estimated to take about one hour. The second phase will follow, aiming to integrate natural landscapes with local characteristics to create a comprehensive loop road network.
(China Times)